Load-carrier for vehicles

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns a load-carrier for vehicles of the kind comprising a load-carrying tubular rail extending across the vehicle roof in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and a foot member at each lateral edge of the vehicle roof, said foot member resting on the upper vehicle roof face and serving as a load-carrying rail support. The purpose of the invention is to provide a load-carrier which is safely anchored to the vehicle roof also when the latter is not formed with safe support against outwardly directed forces, i.e. drip-mouldings, previously commonly provided on vehicle roofs. In a load-carrier in accordance with the invention a clamping element which from the support on the foot member projects into the interior of the load-carrying rail and which may be clamped against the inner face of said rail, is connected with an actuating member mounted in the foot member, in a motion-transferring fashion, said clamping element comprising a finger-like spring which is connecting with the foot member and one end of which abuts against the inner face of the load-carrying rail, said resilient finger directed obliquely outwards from said end so that in tightened conditions it tends to move the foot member inwards, towards the vehicle center.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject invention concerns a load-carrier for vehicles of the kindcomprising a load-carrying tubular rail extending across the vehicleroof in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and a foot member ateach lateral edge of the vehicle roof to support said load-carryingtubular rail, said foot member resting on the upper vehicle roof faceand serving as a load-carrying rail support.

When load-carriers of the kind outlined above are exposed to heavystress exerted thereon by the load that they carry, for instance as thevehicle is driven across uneven road surfaces with consequentialtemporary or permanent deflection of the load-carrying rail extendingacross the vehicle roof, or as the vehicle is driven through sharpbends, there is an immediate risk, particularly in vehicles of the kindhaving no drip moulding at the roof edge, that the lower end of the footmember of the load-carrier will tend to move laterally outwards withconsequential disengagement of the foot member from the roof edge.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main purpose of the invention is to eliminate this drawback and toprovide a load-carrier structure which positively maintains its secureand safe engagement with the vehicle roof edge, also when exposed toload.

This purpose is achieved in a load-carrier of the kind defined in theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The load-carrier in accordance with the invention will be described inthe following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of one end portion of a load-carrier inaccordance with a first embodiment of the invention as seen in thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the load-carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 but showing the upperportion of the load-carrier in the position when secured to the vehicle,i.e. corresponding to the situation illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 and showing the sameload-carrier portion in the position of detachment of the latter;

FIG. 5 is a cross section along line V--V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a section along line VI--VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a corresponding section along line VII--VII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a lateral view of one end portion of a load-carrier accordingto a second embodiment of the invention, the load-carrier being shown ina fastened position and the view being taken in the longitudinaldirection of the associated vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a view as seen from the left in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a section along line X--X in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9 but showing the load-carrierin a detached position, and

FIG. 12 is a section along line XII--XII of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The load-carrier illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings consists of aload-carrying tubular rail 1 which in the mounted position of theload-carrier extends transversely across the vehicle 2 onto which theload-carrier is to be mounted, and a foot member 3 forming aload-carrier bearing means and supported by the vehicle roof adjacentthe lateral edge thereof by way of a base 4. Numeral reference 5 in thedrawing figures designates an actuating arm which is pivotally mountedin the foot member, said arm serving to secure the foot member to thevehicle roof and also to secure the load-carrier to the foot member.

In accordance with the shown embodiment, the load-supporting rail havinga square cross-sectional configuration, is preferably formed at itslower end with centrally located slits 6 which are open towards the railends and which from the rail ends extend some distance towards thevehicle center. The foot member 3 illustrated in the drawings consistsof sheet metal bent to a U-shape as most clearly apparent from FIG. 5.The lateral flanges or legs of the foot member are designated by numeral3a and the web portion thereof by 3b. The upper part of the web 3b isbent downwards so as to form an essentially horizontally extendingtongue 7 serving as a° rail support whereas the lateral flanges 3aproject upwards on either side of the rail to form lateral rail supportmeans. Adjacent its free end the support tongue is formed with lugs 8depending from the tongue sides and provided with oval apertures 9.Through each one of said oval apertures 9 extends a pin 10 which issecured in the lateral flange of the foot member. In the normal positionillustrated, the pin 10 abuts against the lower edge of the aperture 9,thus preventing further deflection upwards of the tongue 7 whereas thepins allow limited deflection of said means downwards until the pinsabut against the upper end edges of the apertures. In the neighborhoodof the point 11 where the tongue merges into the web portion 3b, a pin12 projects through the tongue. Said pin 12 is mounted in said tongue 7so as to be vertically displaceable, in accordance with the embodimentshown inside a bushing 13 of a low-friction wear-resistant material.Reference numeral 15 designates a suspension piece having a portion 15aextending in parallel with the tongue and like said tongue, said portionis passed through by the pin 12. The downwardly directed head 14 of thepin forms an abutment surface abutting against the lower face of theportion 15a in which area it is engaged from below by a leaf spring 23tending to urge the pin downwards. At its upper end the pin is formedwith a groove 16 passing through the outer end portion of a rocker arm17 disposed in the interior of the tubular rail and, by means of anembossment 18 on the outer face, it is riveted to said rocker means andit clamps in position a resilient finger 19, the latter forming aresilient finger means in abutment against the upper inner face 20 ofthe tubular rail and extending obliquely upwards and outwards away fromthe rocker means 17. Numeral reference 21 designates a bolt which whileextending inside a bushing 22 passes through the tongue 7 and thesuspension piece 15 and which by means of a groove 24 formed adjacentits upper end extends through the inner end portion of the rocker means17. On the upper face of the latter the rivet bolt is secured byupsetting 25. The head 26 of the rivet 21 abuts against the lower faceof the support 7, 15a of the load-carrying rail 1 and maintains theinner end of the rocker means 17 at a distance above the support 7, 15athat corresponds to or only slightly exceeds the lower tube railthickness, whereby as the rocker means rocks counter-clockwise inaccordance with the drawings about the bolt 21 the load-carrying railmay be displaced lengthwise with respect to the foot member 3 whereasupon clockwise rocking movement of the rocker means the rocker means endportion 17a extending above the bolt 21 immobilizes the tube rail bypinching it against the support while at the same time the resilientfinger 19 is pressed against the upper inner face of the tube rail.

The actuating arm 5 is arranged as a double-arm lever the fulcrum 27 ofwhich is formed by a pivot pin which is fixed with respect to the footmember 3 and one arm 5a of which projecting laterally from one side ofthe fulcrum 27 forms a handle while the other arm 5b projectinglaterally from the other side of the fulcrum 27 supports apressure-exerting means 28 which in accordance with the shown embodimentconsists of a roller spaced such a distance A from the fulcrum 27 thatas the handle 5a is pivoted downwards from the position illustrated inFIG. 4 to the securing or fastened position illustrated in FIG. 3 it isforced to pass the bolt head 14 which serves as a counter-abutmentmeans, and preferably beyond the center of the bolt in order to createan over-center effect resulting in a secure anchoring (of the arm) inthis position. Reference numeral 29 designates a traction link which isinterconnected with the actuating arm 5 via the fulcrum 27 by means of apivot pin 30, and via an adjustable traction pin 31 it is connected atits lower end with a runner 32, the latter in turn supporting aconnection means 33 which is designed to grip the roof edge of theassociated vehicle. This traction means could be configured in variousways depending on the configuration of the vehicle roof edge. In ahook-like fashion, the connection means 33 engages the runner 32 and itis replaceable for adaptation to the associated vehicle. The connectionmeans illustrated in the drawings is provided with a projecting pin 34intended for engagement with apertures or depressions formed in the roofedge but the connection means could equally well be shaped as a hook forgripping engagement with the roof gripping edge when such is provided.Also other configurations matching the shape and construction of thevehicle roof edge are possible. In order to lock the actuating arm 5 inthe fastening position, it may be provided with a lock 35 formed with aprojection 36 that in a predetermined angular position of the lockengages the foot member, thus preventing unauthorized pivotal movementoutwards of the actuating arm and as a result thereof detachment of theload-carrier. Numeral reference 37 designates a fitting which via a baseplate 38 supports a protective pad 39-of rubber or some other suitablesoft material. In accordance with the embodiment shown, the protectivepad which could be made from a comparatively firm material, is formed onits upper face with rail-like protruding ribs and intermediate grooves40 imparting some resiliency to the protective pad so that it may moverelatively to the base plate 38 and in this manner take on a shape inconformity with the profile of the vehicle roof. In addition, the baseplate is rotational horizontally with respect to the fitting 37 as aresult of its connection therewith via the rivet 49. Obviously, theprotective pad could be designed in a different manner, for instancewith interior voids allowing the pad to adapt itself easily to the shapeof the vehicle roof profile. The position of the fitting 37 on the footmember as seen in the transverse direction of the vehicle could bevaried by shifting the fastening peg 48 or similar element by means ofwhich it is secured to the foot member to the desired mounting hole 41.In accordance with the shown embodiment, the actuating arm 5 as well asthe traction link are in the form of U-shaped profile members havingsuch a leg spacing that they could be nested one in the other andconsequently provide excellent stability to the articulated Jointinterconnecting the lateral legs of said parts. The pivot pin 27 isprovided in the corresponding lateral flanges or legs of the suspensionpiece 15. Numeral references 42 and 43 designate edge facings,preferably made from plastics, positioned in corresponding through-holesin the web portion 3b of the foot member, edge facing 42 additionallyserving to guide the runner 32.

Fastening of the load-carrier described in the aforegoing to a vehiclepreferably is effected in the following manner:

A base element 4 of a design adapted to the roof profile of the vehicleis selected and attached to the foot member 3 in a suitable location asseen in the transverse direction of the vehicle, by selection of asuitable mounting hole 41, and a suitable connection means 33 is hookedonto the runner 32. The foot member with the load-carrying tubular railmounted thereon is then placed on the vehicle roof with the actuatingarm 5 assuming the unfastening position illustrated in FIG. 4. Ifrequired, the traction pin 31 is adjusted with the aid of the nut 44.When the actuating arm 5 is pivoted downwards the base element 4 thuswill be pressed against the vehicle roof while the runner 32 draws theconnection means 33 upwards, thus attaching the foot member 3 to thevehicle roof. Preferably the point of attachment of the traction pin 31to the runner 32 is positioned such that a straight line from said pointand the pivot pin 30 passes the fulcrum or pivot pin 27, when theactuating arm 5 is pivoted downwards, whereby consequently anover-center locking position is created. When the actuating arm 5 ispivoted downwards the abutment means 28 simultaneously moves upwards,along the curve 47, forcing the bolt 12 upwards by acting on the bolthead 14 in such a manner that the rocker means 17 is rocked in theclockwise direction as seen in the drawings, the resilient finger means19 consequently being moved into abutment against the inner upper face20 of the load-carrying rail and its inner end pinching, through leveraction, the tubular rail against the foot member support 7. Because theresilient finger 19 is directed obliquely outwards and upwards, it tendsto move the foot member inwards, towards the vehicle center, in thefastened position. Should the load-carrying tubular rail be deflecteddownwards at its center as a result of excess load on the rail, the footmember will not be exposed to any moment tending to move its lower endaway from the roof edge and out of engagement with the latter, becausethe tongue 7 forms a plane with possibility to deflect with respect tothe rest of the foot member. This ability of the foot member support todeflect attributes to anchoring the foot member in secure engagementwith the roof edge, also under heavy load conditions. The abutment ofthe rocker means 17 against the inner lower face by means of its innerend provides a lower pressure point, and the abutment of the resilienttongue against the upper inner face of the tubular rail provides anupper pressure point which thus is exposed to an expander-like force asthe actuating arm is pivoted to its locking position. The clampingelement thus formed by the rocker means 17 and the associated pins 12and 21 and the resilient finger 19 thus ensure secure and positiveanchoring of the load-carrying rail while at the same time the positionsof the pressure points, distributed in the lengthwise direction of therail, provides a highly favorable moment relationship between the railand the foot member. The spring 23 tends to move the clamping means toits release position as soon as the actuating arm has been pivoted toits upper position, which means that in this position the foot membercould conveniently be set in the desired position by being displacedalong the load-carrying rail with the pins 12, 21.being moved alongslit-shaped apertures 46 formed in the lower wall of the rail.

The load-carrier illustrated in FIGS. 8-12 in the drawing figuresconsists of a load-carrying tubular rail 101 which in the mountedposition of the load-carrier extends across the vehicle 102 on which theload-carrier is to be mounted, and a foot member 103 which forms aload-carrier support which via a base 104 rests on the vehicle roofadjacent the lateral edge thereof. Numeral reference 105 designates anactuating arm, said arm serving to anchor the foot member in safeengagement with the vehicle roof and and also to anchor the load-carrier101 safely to the foot member, all these arrangements being similar tothose of the previous embodiment.

The load-carrying tubular rail which also in accordance with thisembodiment has a square cross-sectional configuration, is preferablyformed at its lower end with centrally located slits 106 which are opentowards the rail ends and which from the rail ends extend some distancetowards the vehicle center. The foot member 103 illustrated in thedrawings consists, like in accordance with the previous embodiment, ofsheet metal bent to a U-shape. The lateral flanges or legs of the footmember are designated by 103a and its web portion by 103b. Like in theprevious embodiment the upper part of the web 103b is bent downwards soas to form an essentially horizontally extending tongue 107 serving as arail support whereas the lateral flanges 103a project upwards on eitherside of the rail to form lateral rail supports. Adjacent its free end,the support tongue 107 is supported by a transverse pin 110 which inaccordance with the example shown is enclosed at its upper part by thesupport tongue 107 whereas its lower part is enclosed by an upperflange-forming part 151a bent horizontally outwards from an otherwisevertical plate-like arm 151. The flange 151a is connected to the tongue107 by means of connectors, such as e.g. rivets 152, 153. When theorientation of the pin 110 relatively to the foot member lateral flanges103b is stable the pin will form a local support means to support theload-carrying rail 101 upon deflection downwards of the central part ofthe rail 101, with the result that said rail may pivot about said pinagainst the action of the end portion 119 of the clamping elements.

The pin 110 could also be arranged so as to be vertically movablerelatively to the foot member lateral flanges 103a between abutmentfaces on the latter, not shown, in order to allow limited verticalmovement relatively to the rest of the foot member in a manner inprinciple identical to that in accordance with the previous embodiment.In the latter case, the pin 110, in the normal position as illustrated,preferably abuts against a lower abutment means, thus preventing furtherdeflection upwards of the tongue 107 whereas restricted turning movementdownwards of the pin 110 is possible relatively to the rest of the footmember until the pin 110 moves into abutment against lower abutmentmeans.

A depending traction link 154 passes through the tongue 107. Thistraction link is arranged to be vertically displaceable relatively tothe tongue 107. Said traction link 154 additionally passes through aspring leaf 117, 119 forming a clamping means which upon the movementdownwards of the traction link presses against the inner face of thetubular rail. The left end portion 119 of the clamping means accordingto FIGS. 10 and 12 form a finger-like spring which is directed downwardsand outwards as calculated from the vehicle center. This direction isobtained in accordance with the shown example by designing the clampingmeans as an arch with the inwardly directed curve of the arch facingaway from the inner face of the rail. By means of an abutment face theright-hand portion 117 of the clamping means engages an abutment tongue155, the latter projecting upwards through the slit 106 in the rail.Preferably, the portion 117 is supported by the abutment tongue 155 insuch a manner as to ensure that it does not have a frictional effect onthe inner face of the rail. In case said portion 117 abuts against saidinner face, the abutting part thereof may be sufficiently rounded toensure that-the friction is reduced to a minimum. The spring finger 119,on the other hand, abuts against the load-carrying rail with a highfrictional force in the tightened condition. In accordance with theembodiment illustrated this high frictional force is obtained in thatthe finger engages the rail by means of its tip. At its top, thetraction link is formed with an abutment means 156, in the exampleillustrated a nut which is screwed into the upper end portion of thetraction link and consequently the position of the abutment means couldbe adjusted relatively to the clamping means. A horizontal pivot pin154a interconnects the traction link 154 with yet another link part 157.

The actuating arm 105 is arranged as a two-arm lever the fulcrum 127 ofwhich is formed by a pivot pin which is fixed with respect to the footmember 103. One arm 105a of the lever projecting laterally from one sideof the fulcrum 127 forms a handle and on the same side of the pivot pin127 as the handle via the arm 105a is articulated to the lower endportion of the link part 157 via a pivot pin 128. Numeral reference 129designates a traction link which by means of a pivot pin 130 isinterconnected at its upper end with the actuating arm portion 105b andwhich at its lower end is connected with a runner 132 via an adjustabletraction pin 131. The runner 132 in turn supports a connection means 133secured to the runner 132 by means of a rivet 158 which in accordancewith the embodiment illustrated is mounted in the runner 132 in avertically oval-shaped hole 159, thus providing a possibility forrestricted displacement vertically of the connection means 133. Theconnection means 133 preferably is detachable from the runner and alsoreplaceable for the purpose of adaptation to the associated vehicle. Thereplacement feature preferably is obtained by arranging the head of therivet 158 in such a manner that it may be pulled through the hole 159 ina position of displacement in which the rivet 158 is lifted relativelyto the runner 132. For example, a connection means of the same kind asin the previous embodiment incorporating projecting pins could thus beadded if required for attachment on the vehicle. Obviously, any otherconnection means adapted to the vehicle on which the load-carrier is tobe used, could be Joined to the remaining part, as also mentioned inconnection with the description of the previous embodiment. In order tolock the actuating arm 105 in the fastening position, it may be providedwith a lock 135 formed with a projection 136 which in a predeterminedangular position of the lock engages the foot member, thus preventingunauthorized pivotal movement outwards of the actuating arm and as aresult thereof detachment of the load-carrier. Numeral reference 137designates a fitting which via a base plate 138 supports a protectivepad 139 of rubber or some other suitable soft material. In accordancewith the embodiment shown, the protective pad, which could be made froma comparatively firm material, is formed on its upper face withrail-like protruding ribs and intermediate grooves 140 imparting someresiliency to the protective pad so that it may move relatively to thebase plate 138 and in this manner take on a shape in conformity with theprofile of the vehicle roof. In addition, the base plate is arranged forturning movements horizontally with respect to the fitting 137 as aresult of its connection therewith via the rivet 149. Obviously, theprotective pad could be designed in a different manner, for instancewith interior voids allowing the pad to adapt itself easily to the shapeof the vehicle roof profile. The position of the fitting 137 on the footmember, as seen in the transverse direction of the vehicle, could bevaried by shifting the fastening peg 148 or similar element by means ofwhich it is secured to the foot member, to the desired mounting hole141. In accordance with the shown embodiment, the actuating arm 105 aswell as the traction link are designed at least partly as U-shapedprofile members the leg spacing of which is such that the members may benested one in the other and thus provide excellent stability to thearticulated joint interconnecting the lateral flanges or legs of saidparts. The pivot pin 127 is provided in the corresponding lateralflanges or legs of the arm 151 which thus forms a suspension piece. Atits top, the pin 131 is provided with a nut 144 which is threaded ontothe pin, thus allowing adjustment of the degree of abutment of the pin131 against the abutment face formed by a pin 145 on the traction link129.

Fastening of the load-carrier just described to a vehicle preferably iseffected in the following manner:

A base element 104 of a design adapted to the roof profile of thevehicle is selected and attached to the foot member 103 in a suitablelocation as seen in the transverse direction of the vehicle, byselection of a suitable mounting hole 141 and a suitable connectionmeans 33 is hooked onto the runner 132. The foot member with theload-carrying tubular rail mounted thereon is then placed on the vehicleroof with the actuating arm 105 in the unfastening position illustratedin FIG. 12. If required, the traction pin 131 is adjusted with the aidof the nut 144. When the actuating arm 105 is pivoted downwards, thebase element 104 thus will be pressed against the vehicle roof while therunner 132 draws the connection means 133 upwards, thus attaching thefoot member 103 to the vehicle roof. Preferably, the point of attachmentof the traction pin 131 to the runner 132 is positioned such that astraight line from said point and the pivot pin passes the fulcrum orpivot pin 127, when the actuating arm 105 is pivoted downwards, wherebyconsequently an over-center locking position is created. When theactuating arm 105 is pivoted downwards, the link part 157 and thetraction link 154 simultaneously move downwards and the abutment faceformed by the nut 156 urges the clamping element 117, 119 downwards,thus tending to flatten the arch-shape of this element. As a result, theresilient finger 119 engages the inner face of the rail and consequentlythe entire clamping element has a tendency to prolongation to the rightas seen in FIGS. 10 and 12. Because the clamping element part 117 abutsagainst the projecting abutment tongue 155, the clamping element tendsto displace the abutment tongue, and thus the entire foot member 103, tothe right, i.e. in the direction towards the center of the vehicle.Should the load-carrying tubular rail be deflected downwards at itscenter as a result of excess load on the rail, the foot member will notbe exposed to any moment tending to move its lower end away from theroof edge and out of engagement with the latter. When the tongue 107forms a plane that may perform rocking movements relatively to the restof the foot member, this ability of the foot member support means toperform rocking movements attributes to anchoring the foot member insecure engagement with the roof edge, also under heavy load conditions.Otherwise, the yieldable quality of the resilient finger 119 allows therail to turn about the pin 110. The clamping element thus ensures secureand positive anchoring of the load-carrying rail while at the same timeit provides a highly favorable moment relationship between the rail andthe foot member. Preferably, the positions of the abutment 156 and ofthe pivot pin 128 are chosen in such a manner that a straight linebetween these means passes the pivot pin 127 immediately before theactuating arm 105 reaches its fastening position, i.e. the positionillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10, and consequently also in this case anover-center effect is created and therefore the locked position issafely maintained, also in case the lock 135 is not operative or also inthe event such a lock is missing.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described in theaforegoing and illustrated in the drawings by way of example only, butcould be varied as to its details within the scope of the appendedclaims without departure from the inventive idea.

Although it has proved to be advantageous to arrange for the fulcrum 27;127 to be stationary relatively to the body of the foot member 3; 103with the result that the clamping of the foot member against the roofedge is effected independently of the clamping of said member againstthe load-carrying rail and that adjustment may be made separately foradaptation to the forces required for the respective function, there isnothing to prevent application of the invention also in a situation whenthe pivot pin 27; 127 is vertically movable, as the case is in the manyprior-art constructions. As mentioned previously, the disadvantage withthis arrangement is the difficulty of individual adjustment of thesecuring forces.

In case the load-carrying rail is exposed to heavy deflection forces thesupport means tongue will move downwards, until the pins 10, or as thecase maybe the pin 110, abut(s) against abutment means formed on thestationary part of the foot. These abutment means eliminate the riskthat the foot members bend in a non-desirable manner relatively to theload-carrying rail at the occurrence of heavy lateral loads. Preferably,the positions of the abutment means relatively to the pins 10, or as thecase may be the pin 110, are adapted in such a manner that the pins abutagainst the lower abutment faces, when the load-carrier assumes itsnormal position. In this manner largely every tendency of deflection orbending outwards during conditions of heavy lateral load, such as is thecase when the vehicle is driven through sharp curves, is eliminated,because the support is in a position of abutment from the start andconsequently cannot deflect or be bent downwards in the foot member thatis positioned furthest to the rear as seen in the direction of theforces involved, i.e. furthest outwards in the curve.

I claim:
 1. A load-carrier having a load-carrying tubular rail andadapted to extend across a vehicle roof in a transverse direction of avehicle, a foot member positionable at each lateral edge of the vehicleroof to support the load-carrying tubular rail, the foot member adaptedto rest on an upper vehicle roof face comprising: a clamping elementprojecting into an interior of the load-carrying rail from a support onthe foot member, the clamping element, which is arranged to be clampedagainst an inner face of the rail, being connected in amotion-transferring fashion to an actuating member mounted in the footmember, the clamping element comprising a resilient finger having afirst and second end, the first end connected to the foot member and thesecond end of which acts in abutment against the inner face of theload-carrying rail, the resilient finger being directed obliquelyoutwards in a direction towards said abutting end such that in atightened position through a lever action said resilient finger tends todisplace an upper portion of the foot member inwards, towards a vehiclecenter.
 2. The load-carrier according to claim 1, wherein the clampingelement is arranged to expand vertically.
 3. The load-carrier accordingto claim 2, wherein the clamping element further comprises a firstabutment means, said means extending from the foot member through adownwardly facing opening in the shape of a longitudinal slit, formed insaid load-carrying rail and projecting laterally above said opening onthe inner face of the load-carrying rail, and a second abutment meansextending through the opening in the load-carrying rail down into thefoot member, the second abutment means being vertically movable andarranged to be shifted to a position corresponding to the expandedcondition of the clamping means upon operation of said actuating memberin the foot member.
 4. The load-carrier according to claim 3, whereinthe actuating member further comprises: a third abutment means arrangedon an arm which is pivotally mounted in the foot member, and the secondabutment means has a counter-abutment means cooperative with the thirdabutment means.
 5. The load-carrier according to claim 4, wherein thesupport on the foot member carrying the rail is arranged to deflectalong a vertical plane passing through the rail when the rail is clampedto the foot member.
 6. The load-carrier according to claim 4, whereinthe pivotable arm is adapted to effect securement of said foot member tothe vehicle roof.
 7. The load-carrier according to claim 6, wherein theabutment means of the pivotable arm and the counter-abutment meansfurther comprise rounded abutment ends and are positioned so that theypass their highest points of abutment as the pivotable arm moves towardsits securing position, for the purpose of forming an over-center type oflocking.
 8. The load-carrier according to claim 6, wherein the supportsface on the foot member carrying the rail is arranged to deflect along avertical plane passing through the rail when the rail is clamped to thefoot member.
 9. The load-carrier according to claim 4, wherein theclamping element further comprises: a rocker means positioned in theinterior of the load-carrying rail the rocker means having, a first anda second end, a lower pressure point at the first end supported adjacenta lower inner face of the load-carrying rail by a pin mounted in thefoot member, and an upper pressure point at the second end supportedadjacent an upper inner face of the load-carrying rail by an upperpressure point pin, the upper pressure point pin passing through thefoot member support portion so as to be vertically displaceable thereinand forming the counter-abutment means at its lower end.
 10. Theload-carrier according to claim 9, wherein the support on the footmember carrying the rail is arranged to deflect along a vertical planepassing through the rail when the rail is clamped to the foot member.11. The load-carrier according to claim 9, wherein the upper pressurepoint is positioned closest to an outer end of the load-carrying railand the rocker means is provided close to the upper pressure point witha resilient finger directed obliquely outwards and upwards, theresilient finger intended to engage the inner face of the load-carryingrail upon movement upwards of the upper pressure point.
 12. Theload-carrier according to claim 11, wherein the lower pressure point ofthe rocker means is spaced from the support of the foot member by adistance at least corresponding to the thickness of a wall of theload-carrying rail and so devised that upon rocking movements towardsthe expanding position said distance is reduced and a lower wall of theload-carrying rail is clamped against the foot member support.
 13. Theload-carrier according to claim 9, wherein the lower pressure point ofthe rocker means is spaced from the support of the foot member by adistance at least corresponding to the thickness of a wall of theload-carrying rail and so devised that upon rocking movements towardsthe expanding position said distance is reduced and a lower wall of theload-carrying rail is clamped against the foot member support.
 14. Theload-carrier according to claim 1, wherein the support on the footmember carrying the rail is arranged to deflect along a vertical planepassing through the rail when the rail is clamped to the foot member.15. The load-carrier according to claim 14, wherein the foot memberfurther comprises: a pressed sheet metal foot member and a tongue formedfrom the support of the foot member and which is pressed from a footmember web and is directed towards a vehicle roof center, said tonguearranged to perform restricted vertical deflection movements.
 16. Theload-carrier according to claim 1, wherein the clamping element furthercomprises: a resilient finger which is vertically compressible; theresilient finger having a first point of abutment located at aforce-transfer means associated with the actuating member on the footmember so that at the first point of abutment the resilient fingerextends in a direction outwards and away from the vehicle center and asecond point of abutment located at an abutment tongue which tends topress the foot member in a direction towards the vehicle center relativeto the load-carrying rail owning to a tendency to expand horizontally.17. The load-carrier according to claim 16, wherein the resilient fingerfurther comprises: an arch-shaped curve having an inner curve and anouter curve; the inner curve of the arch facing away from the inner faceof the load-carrying rail so that the force transfer means acts on theinner curve of the resilient finger for the purpose of providingtransverse compression relative to the load-carrying rail andlongitudinal expansion by straightening the arch of the resilientfinger.
 18. The load-carrier according to claim 16, wherein theresilient finger further comprises: a first end portion positionedexternally of the abutment point of the force transfer means so that theend portion of the resilient finger abuts against the inner face of theload-carrying rail with a high frictional force and a second end portionof the resilient finger arranged to move relative to the inner face ofthe load-carrying rail along the load-carrying rail and to abut againstan abutment portion associated with the foot member.
 19. Theload-carrier according to claim 18, wherein the abutment portion furthercomprises: a tongue projecting through a slit formed in the inner faceof the load-carrying rail which comes into contact with an abutment faceof the resilient finger.
 20. The load-carrier according to claim 18,wherein the force transfer means further comprises a depending tractionlink.